Have you ever had a prescription filled and wondered if it was counterfeit?

[Digit]

I did, and it was for pain medication which in itself won't KILL me if it is not of adequate strength, but it won't take care of the pain, either.
It was for Hydrocodone with the M357 mark. TWO of them at a time were not doing anything for the pain I had. I had taken these before a few years back, and I remembered just ONE did the trick.

Well, I told the doctor what I was experiencing and that I had taken them before years ago with no problem. I asked her to rewrite the script for the same thing so I could take it to another pharmacy...same strength.

I was given ones with a Watson 349 mark. Same strength, mind you. One is ALL I need of these.

I have a few of the M357's left. Should I have someone analyze these to see if they are bogus?

Note: These were purchased at (different) local pharmacies and all within the last month.

I am even wondering whether I should switch pharmacies now....

[pennylane100]

1. I think the effect is related to the amount of pain you have.

I remember I had surgery on my nose and there was not enough pain killers in the world to help but after a minor, less painful surgery, I did not need more than one at a time.

[Digit]

4. Same pain as before...I have osteoarthritis of the knee and am on my feet alot.

I began the first script only taking one at a time. I pretty much realized immediately that this was not working, so I doubled it for a couple of weeks. I began limping more as the pain was getting to me.

I just could not understand what was wrong, and it did not make sense. I thought it MUST be counterfeit pills, or at least I hoped so cause I did not want anything stronger (like percoset) which might prevent me from working.

So, same pain, same strength, different pharmacy.....better result.

I just know I need to have this damn knee replaced soon, but I will lose my job if I take off for 6 weeks.

[MedleyMisty]

2. That's what paid for my current car

When I was around two or so I had seizures and the pharmacist sold my medicine on the black market and gave me Kool-Aid.

My parents sued and two decades later I got a decent used car.

[varkam]

3. Couldn't it just be different companies manufacturing the generics?

AFAIK, they use slightly different formulas for the inert ingredients that could interfere with absorption in some people.

[Digit]

5. I took the M357's before with a better result than this time around...

That is why I am questioning whether they could be counterfeit pills or of varying strenth.

I read in another post that China is supplying our country with many of our generic pharmaceuticals.

Hmmmmmm.

[lurky]

6. Was the pharmacy a big chain or a small shop?

Sometimes businesses will do shady things to make a buck. Another possibility is a pharmacy employee who is replacing the real ones with fakes, either to sell or to use. Isn't hydrocodone similar to OxyContin, etc? I imagine there is a pretty strong demand for it on the street.

[Digit]

7. Grocery store chain

The other pharmacy which gave me medication which worked better was a drug store chain.

[annm4peace]

8. I was given counter fit anti depressant at Walgreen

Short version. Twice I received counterfeit Effexor at Walgreen. It was very scary and horrible.


Loooonnng Version

I recently moved to MN and found a new Dr., I had the prescription of Effexor filled at a Walgreen. The day after I took the first dosage from Walgreen, I noticed I felt as if I had decreased the medicine. Horrible side effects.. dizzy, off balance, major intense headache. It was very hard to make it through the day. I thought maybe I took 2 pill instead of two. This continued for a week before I called the Dr. and told her.. she said must be mistake. It is a clearly marked capsule.. how could I be wrong?. As with any antidepressant it is somewhat dangerous to decrease or increase the drug.

I went through two more days and said I couldn't take it anymore, the dizziness and headaches, and slow cognitive ability was hurting my work. she gave me a month of samples from her office.

The next day I was already feeling better. I went to Walgreen and told them, they didn't seem to care. I called my Insurance company and they cared but didn't know what to tell me.

I received a couple more months of samples. Because I was new to the state, I didn't know of other pharmacies. I thought maybe it was just that Walgreen. so I went to another one.. same thing happened. I went back to my doctor.. you could see the pain in my face so she did believe me but couldn't believe Walgreen could give counterfeit drugs. She gave me 3 more month's supply of Effexor.

That week, I notice a Pharmacy along the side of a very small clinic. I went inside and discussed what happened to me to the Pharmacist. She said that I was probably given a counterfeit Effexor. She said that a couple months ago they received an email that there was a counterfeit Cumidin drug (blood thinner?) being distributed in the city.

She told me the Pharmacies don't receive the supply of drugs directly from the Drug companies but through a distributer. She said their pharmacy was small so received their drugs from a small distributer that handled several Pharmacies locally. But Walgreen's has 1 main distributer and that they probably got a batch of counterfeit drug. She said the fake capsules usually look pretty good, but it would take testing of the drug inside the capsule to see if it had the right amount of ingredients. She gave me the address and contact of Pfizer, but I never did send in the remaining pills I had. I do try to tell others to not ignore if their drug isn't working and definitely don't go to Walgreen.

[Digit]

9. Wow, this is exactly what I was speaking of, thanks for sharing your experience

Like the cat food, the toys, and many other things which have had issues for one reason or another, we need to be vigilant.
I am not taking a life saving drug, but consumers need to be aware that counterfeit drugs are out there.

I will try to find out where to send the samples I have left and take it from there.

Again, thanks for sharing your experience.

[Mojorabbit]

10. The fda is not testing much that comes in

I have had the same problem with some generics. I have to take a muscle relaxer for leg spasms due to MS. The generic does not work nearly as well as the brand name. I think there is allowed a 20-25 percent leeway which is why on some meds with a narrow range of effectiveness, ie antiarrythmic cardiac drugs have had cases of people dying. It wouldn't surprise me at all if some imported drugs are not up to par.

[Digit]

11. I think this needs to be checked into, since it can be life or death for some people

This goes far beyond poisoning of cats (I am a cat owner, also) and is more insidious.

Pockets of people dying, here and there, and nobody knows what happened.
Some people can't even articulate their meds aren't working, most likely.

[Mojorabbit]

13. Some links

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070719/19drug.htm
http://counsellingresource.com/medications/discount-drugs/generics.html
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/archives/generic_drug_problems/report_generic_drug_problem.php?page=12
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010829083837.htm

[uppityperson]

12. It would be worth checking out. There could be many reasons for difference, but

it's worth checking it out. Take them back where you got them from and have them look up what they are.

[Horse with no Name]

14. By law, generics have to have the same active ingredient as the name brand

However, many times, the potentiators that the manufacturers add make all the difference in the world.
Sounds kind of fishy to me.
But hey, I read something in passing about our drugs coming from China, so even if you were in pain, consider yourself lucky you didn't die from lead poisoning...ya ungrateful bastid.:sarcasm:

[orleans]

15. i'd find a lab that could test them. then i'd report anything that was messed up

and see what you can do about it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Yes, my diabetes med was not working when I went to visit my parents

and my sugars were out of whack. I went and bought the SAME med at the Mexico City Pharmacy (imported from Canada) and problem solved

Literally

Told the pharmacy when I came home... they cared not

I informed my doc, and she did care... quite a bit in-fact

We informed County Health and I sent a letter to my congresscritter, bottle included (of the mexican med) asking why they could import from Canada and we could not. I wonder why I never got an answer for THAT ONE.

[MiniMe]

17. Do any local news stations have a consumer line?

This is the kind of thing that they love, and they will have the testing done for you.